Sun, Feb 7th - 8:24AM
Getting Back to Basics
Over the years, I have spent quite a bit of time grappling with new techniques, learning new stitches, and expanding my repertoire of jewelry making skills. Every now and then, it's good to get back to the basics. I love doing bead crochet. While I was learning, I used three different colors and beaded six in the round, creating stripes. I went on to do different size beads, adding gemstones and pearls, and different Czech pressed glass beads. Some of my pieces are composed of just very fine beads, such as the 24 karat gold lined crystal beads that are Czech vintage beads from the 1920s. The beads alone make the piece beautiful. While planning for a trip to Pittsburgh, I decided that I would make a bead crochet bracelet upon which just the beauty of the beads would carry the piece. I did not have time to design anything complicated, nor time to pick one bead up at a time if I were to have the beads strung before I left.
Using just one kind of bead makes a simple bracelet, but loading them up onto Jean stitch is easy because you can use a bead spinner.I chose Delicas number 502, which is a 22 karat gold bead that has a lovely lavender iris finish. These beads are discontinued and Myuki no longer makes them. I bought them at a closeout, and only have a limited supply. These beads are some of the nicest I have ever seen though. I was going to do a simple bracelet with an invisible join. However, as I got closer to finishing this strand, I received some 14 karat gold-filled findings, which included bead caps that fit the end of this strand perfectly. Doing an invisible join is something that took me awhile to learn, and most of my bead crochet bracelets do have the invisible join. Using end findings is a way that those who cannot perfect the technique of the invisible join can still make beautiful bracelet. It occurred to me that just because I COULD do an invisible join didn't mean I HAD to do an invisible join. The result is this delicate bracelet which is really quite pretty. I am glad I decided not to do an invisible join because the clasp and the findings add quite a bit to the design. You can still roll the bracelet onto your wrist, just as you can with any bead crochet bracelet, but the clasp is there if you want to put it on in the more traditional manner.
Moral of the story: Your knowledge of complicated techniques does not detract from the beauty of simple techniques. Get back to the basics every now and then.
Please visit Need for Beads see what else I have for designer jewelry! Or find me on eBay!
Comment (0)
|
|
Sat, Nov 14th - 8:43AM
Online Radio Show
The Jewelry Connection 3 pm EST, 2 pm CST, 1 pm MST, Noon PST In Europe: 9 PM, except for the UK where show time is 8 PM
A Holiday in Jewels - A Collaborative Jewelry Show Mona and Gail will have a wonderful display of submitted pieces to show and discuss. This week, Mona returns to the permanent broadcast room (The Jewelry Connection) which has undergone an overhaul by LiveVideo. Stop by and see what is going on! No user id is required to watch and listen to the show. Check out the listener base that comes from over THREE DOZEN countries. SKYPE Mona77401 or call Mona at 1-832-397-6317
You may also join the show via Skype or this phone number during the show if you want to talk to Mona and Gail. 
Comment (0)
|
|
Sat, Mar 28th - 6:18AM
Chain Maille Copper Bracelet
March 28, 2009 - Although it took a few weeks, I prepared copper jump rings for my next creation. When the wound spring of copper was cut, I noticed that several burrs were created. I had to spend a lot of time tumbling the rings, using a cup de-burrer, tumbling again, before I couldn't even begin to create the bracelet below. This is the standard Byzantine pattern, with a clasp easily made from the same copper wire.
More rings are on the way. We are trying some new cutting techniques in an effort to avoid burrs. In the next piece, I hope to use some stone druks.
Comment (0)
|
|
Sat, Jan 31st - 1:13PM
Chain Maille
I have been reading about chain maille and how to make it for a couple of years now. At the end of last year, I purchased a jump ring maker and at vibratory tumbler. I've made jump rings in silver and gold, tumbled them, and then started designing with chain mail. This is my first effort:
And here is the same bracelet laid out:
The chain maille in this bracelet is called Full Persian Chain Maille.
The next pattern that I tried was in silver and is called Box Chain Maille:
The art bead in this one is by Marj Bates, a bead artist from Massachusetts.
Finally, I did a necklace with twisted wire gold jump rings in the Byzantine chain maille pattern.
I finished the necklace with a lobster clasp. After making this necklace, my left wrist was sore for two days, but I don't care because I really enjoyed wearing this one! On Friday, January 30, 2009, I spoke at the New London Rotary Club about my manufacturing classification. I actually qualify for this classification three times: once for Labsphere, Inc., once for Tarnhelm Supply Co. Inc., and lastly, once for Need for Beads, Inc. My presentation was well received. I had a blast talking about all the things that we manufacture in these companies.
Next, I'm getting quotes on costs for different sizes of copper wire. I expect that I'll have a piece done in copper soon.
Comment (0)
|
|
Sun, Nov 16th - 3:41AM
Radio interview with Mona Hair last week featured this bracelet
I saw a great pattern in the Dec. 2007/Jan. 2008 issue of Beadwork Magazine written up by Michele Anderson and decided to give it a try. I used my loom made especially for Delicas, and the warp threads were long enough to knot the end of the fringe. But since I used fireline, knotting the ends was just as difficult and took as much time as sewing in the warp threads would have. The picture below shows the results: 
Shimmering Tapestry Bracelet
I also changed the toggles on this. I saw Party Girl Necklace by Robin Cowart in the same issue of Beadwork Magazine, and knew I could modify the beaded bead to my project. I used 4mm Swarovski crystals, Japanese Delicas that match the pink beads in the band, and sewed up a beaded bead. It collapsed. So, I opened it back up and put in a black faceted 6mm glass bead, and the bead fit perfectly. Now I had a toggle that matched the band and was sturdy. Here's the bracelet flat so you can see the pattern of the band and the beaded beads better: 
Shimmering Tapestry Bracelet with Beaded Bead Toggles
The next one I am going to do with the pattern of the band will be in a different color, and I will use a no-warp threads method. I'll do this using the Versa Loom by Sova Enterprises. Although I will fold over the ends and embellish on top of the loomed band, I want to create a closure that brings the embellished ends closer together. I'll probably finish that at the Bead Society of New Hampshire's November 2008 Bead Retreat. If you want to see more of my work, please visit http://www.tarnhelm.com/NeedForBeads
Comment (7)
|
|
|
| February 2010 |
| |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
|
7
|
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
|
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
|
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
|
28 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
prev
|
|
next
|
|
Invite
What's New |
Popular |
Auctions |
Blogs |
Webspace |
Shoutbox |
Forums |
TopicCraze |
Newsletter |
Contact Us
